Hyline Brown Chickens World’s Most Balanced Layers

Hyline brown chickens are the world’s most balanced and prolific producers of jumbo brown eggs, characterized by sweet and friendly personalities.

Hyaline browns were developed for egg production, but they are also used for meat when they stop laying. Hyaline brown is one of the most productive layers.

This article covers everything about this hybrid layer, including its cost compared with Isa Browns and brown shavers.

Let’s delve into their lives.

Quick Overview

Origin	United States
Developer by	Lowa USA, around 90 years ago, by a poultry company called Hyline International
Purpose	Eggs
Eggs Per Year	300+
Eggs Color	Brown
Eggs Size	Large
Temperament	Friendly and Calm
Feather Color	Red with white Under Feathers
Skin Color	Yellow
Comb	Single
Bird Size	Medium to Large
Body Weight at 17 Weeks of Age	Around 3 Lbs
Body Weight at 70 Weeks of Age	Around 4.5 Lbs
Lifespan	3 to 6 years
Broodiness	Rare
Climate Tolerance	Any
Suitable for the Backyard	Yes
Suitable for Beginners	Yes

What are Hyline Brown Chickens

Hyline Brown chickens are a famous hybrid breed of chicken, bred specifically for laying eggs, and are a Red Link.

Red Link is created by crossing a white female chicken with a red male chicken, such as a Rhode Island Red male and a White Plymouth Rock female.

These chickens are the best choice for eggs and are well known for the prolific brown eggs you see in stores. They are also on the list of the largest egg-layer chicken producers.

They are hardy, adaptable, and easy to care for, requiring minimal attention over time. Hy-Line Brown chickens are also renowned for being calm, easy to care for, and friendly.

 

Brown Hyline Chicken Origin and History 

Approximately 90 years ago, the hyaline chicken breed began to be raised in Iowa, USA. In Australia, SBA holds a license to breed Hyline Browns, and they excel at it.

They’re a Red Link, which is created by crossing a white female chicken with a red male chicken, such as a Rhode Island Red male and a White Plymouth Rock female.

The Hy-Line Brown chicken is often mistaken for the ISA Brown chicken, and some people refer to it as brown layers. They can lie for 2 years, and sometimes these lies can last up to 5 years with proper care.

What Breeds Make Hyline Brown Chickens

These Chickens are mostly mixed and made for laying eggs. Hyaline chickens aren’t one breed. They are a type of hen made by the Hy-Line International company.

Hy-Line International mixes different chicken types to create hens that lay a large number of eggs, eat well, and stay healthy, and one of them is the Brown Hy-Line chicken.

These chickens are Red Links, created by crossing a white hen with a red rooster, similar to a Rhode Island Red father and a White Plymouth Rock mother.

Characteristics of Hyline Brown

Like Bovans Browns, they have brown feathers with white splashes, mainly on the back. The shades of brown vary from light to dark. Hy-line brown pullets are red with white spots, and roosters are white with red spots.

Additionally, they have a single comb, mostly large, and some even droop over. Hyline Browns are medium to large chickens, with hens weighing approximately 4-8 pounds and roosters slightly heavier.

Hyline Brown chickens mature early, usually between 16 and 20 weeks, and reach a weight of 5-8 pounds when fully grown. They can produce over 300 eggs per year.

These chickens start laying eggs earlier, usually between sixteen and twenty-two weeks of age, compared to other breeds that may start laying at twenty-four weeks or later.

Egg Production of Hyline Brown Chicken 

Hyline Brown chickens are the top large brown egg layer globally. They start laying early and lay over 300 eggs a year. Their eggs also reach 60 grams.

These hens will lay almost one egg every day for about two years. To do that, they require high-protein feed, at least 16 percent protein content.

They start laying eggs around 20 to 24 weeks old and continue laying steadily for about 100 weeks, or approximately 2 years. Their eggs have a pleasing shape and brown color, similar to those at grocery stores or markets.

The Temperament of the Hyline Brown Chicken

Hyline Brown Chickens can be an extraordinary pet chicken for you and your children, and also for laying prolific eggs. They love being around humans and enjoying their company.

The Hyline Brown chicken has a nice, calm, and friendly temperament, making it perfect for keeping in your backyard or flock.

They’re incredibly hardy, adaptable, and easy to care for; they can thrive in various climates and environments without issue.

Hyline Brown Chicken Lifespan

A chicken’s lifespan or life expectancy can depend on its environment, diet, and care.

Sometimes, brown chickens might get sick with cancer around 18 months old and can die from it, and most of these chickens don’t make it past 3 years.

Commercial hybrids like Shaver Browns and Hyline Browns are light and productive breeds, due to this they usually only live for 3 to 6 years with proper care, however many backyard chicken keepers report them as living around 2-3 years.

Hyline Brown Chicken Price in Hatcheries 

You can choose from many offline hatcheries to purchase Hyline Brown chickens. At about 18 weeks old, they can cost about $20.

Typically, their prices range from a few dollars per chick for day-old chicks to higher prices for older pullets or breeding stock.

To obtain accurate pricing information, it is best to contact local hatcheries, suppliers, or online hatchery providers directly, as prices can fluctuate based on market conditions and availability.

You can also visit this site to find the exact price information: Afrimash, Waitawacreek, Talking Hens, or Woodbury Hatchery.

Things You Should Know About Hyline Brown

There are some essential things about the brown chicken that you should know if you want to learn more about them:

• Hyline brown chickens can turn food into eggs well, and they need more protein than other chickens to lay a lot of eggs.
• These chickens continue to improve with each new generation from Hy-Line. They utilize the latest breeding technology to enhance their lifespan and increase egg production.
• Some Hyline Brown chickens may develop a condition called cross beak, which can be attributed to genetic issues or problems during hatching. 
• Another issue is a crooked beak, which isn’t as serious. With a crooked beak, the top part doesn’t align perfectly, slightly shifting to one side.
• All Hyline Brown trimmed beaks, as chickens with cross-beak and crooked beak conditions may require further trimming and could raise the chance of even death.
• Another issue we faced was that 3 out of the 15 had trouble with poop sticking to their butt feathers. Two of them had it bad enough that we had to give them baths.
• They’re not the best in rainy weather. Their feathers are not as waterproof, and they are smaller and less dense.
• These birds are not bred for long lives; they won’t live as long as other breeds because they expend a lot of energy laying many eggs.

Hyline Brown Management Guide 

These chickens are generally the healthiest breed and do not require special care. However, like all birds, they are susceptible to various diseases, including tapeworms and other parasites.

Here are more things you should know to manage Hyline Brown chickens:

• Preparing Coop

Ensure a comfortable, well-built, ventilated, and predator-safe chicken coop to live safely and comfortably.

You should provide each chicken with at least 2 to 3 square feet of space in the coop and approximately 8 to 10 square feet of space outside for movement and exploration.

Try to clean and dry the coop at least twice a week, and ensure it is thoroughly dry after being wet.

Provide nesting boxes filled with clean, soft straw for laying eggs. Also, eggs should be collected daily to prevent waste and dirt.

• Health Care

Regularly checking for signs of illness and injuries and seeking advice from a veterinarian will help maintain their health and well-being.

Provide the necessary vaccinations and deworming as recommended by the veterinarian. Keep their surroundings and coop clean to prevent the spread of microorganisms and infections.

Make sure to give your Hyline Brown a chicken friend so they don’t feel lonely and to prevent any mental issues.

• Diet Plan

To meet all their nutritional requirements, provide your Hyline Brown chickens with a balanced diet that includes commercial feed.

Basically, with these breeds, you’ll get more eggs for the same amount of food compared to others. Just stick to the 16% or 17% protein feed and you’ll see the rewards.

To keep them happy and active, add fruits, vegetables, and occasional treats to their diet. Ensure they have access to clean and fresh water at all times.

Avoid harmful foods like chocolate, avocado skin or pit, coffee or tea, apple seeds, raw potatoes, green potatoes, onions or scallions, garlic, or raw eggs.

• Daily Care

Regular maintenance is essential to keeping your Hyline Brown chickens healthy, happy, and gorgeous.

Trim overgrown feathers and nails to prevent them from causing mobility and vision problems.

Provide clean and dry soil in their surroundings for dust baths. Dust baths help regulate oil production and maintain healthy feathers.

Hyline Brown vs Isa Brown

Both chickens are popular commercial hybrid breeds known for their egg-laying abilities. 

Hyline Brown was established in Iowa, USA, approximately 90 years ago by Hyline International, a poultry company. The Institut de Sélection Animale (ISA) developed ISA Brown chickens in 1978.

They are both well known for their prolific egg-laying capabilities. They have almost the same laying rate, producing 300+ large eggs per year, with slight differences in egg color.

Moreover, they both have a super-friendly and non-aggressive temperament, making them perfect for families with children and first-time chicken keepers.

They have brown feathers and may have slight differences in appearance. Though they are both generally brown-feathered with variations in shades.

These chickens don’t live long due to their high production rate; Hyline Brown can live for 3-6 years, and ISA Brown can live for 5-7 years if properly cared for. 

They don’t go broody because they are layer birds explicitly bred for egg production, and they have been genetically selected to avoid broodiness.

Hyline Chickens vs Brown Shaver

These two are popular laying hen breeds known for their high egg production capabilities.

Sweet Hyline Brown:

• A poultry company called Hyline International started raising these chickens in Iowa, USA, around 90 years ago.
• Hyline Brown chickens are renowned for their exceptional egg-laying abilities. They consistently produce over 300 large, dark brown eggs each year.
• They are calm and sweet birds with a super-friendly and non-aggressive temperament.
• They usually have brown and red feathers with white speckles, though variations exist depending on the strain.
• Hyline browns have a relatively lower lifespan due to their higher production; they can live for 3-6 years with proper care.

Friendly Brown Shaver:

• Brown Shavers chicken is a hybrid breed, sometimes referred to as Hyline chicken.
• They have outstanding personalities and can be excellent pets. They are super friendly for children to care for.
• Their life expectancy is generally lower; they can live only 3-6 years due to their genetic predisposition.
• Shaver Brown is a highly efficient and balanced brown egg layer, laying around 300 brown eggs per year.
• They also have brown feathers with shades similar to those of a hyline brown chicken, and may have slight variations in appearance.

Conclusion

In summary, Hyaline Brown chickens are one of the world’s most balanced brown egg layers. They are well known for their prolific egg-laying ability and calm, friendly personalities.

They are commercial breeds developed from various types of egg-laying chickens to produce a high volume of eggs. You can buy hyaline brown chickens from any local or online hatcheries and add them to your backyard or flock.

Have you ever raised a prolific egg layer?

FAQs

How many eggs do hyline brown chickens lay per day?

Hyline brown hens can lay an egg daily for the first two years.

How long do Hyline chickens lay for?

These prolific egg layers lay for approximately 2 years, and some lay for up to 4 to 5 years.

At what age do Hyline brown chickens start laying?

These chickens mature early and start laying eggs between 16 and 22 weeks of age, laying for 2 years.

How long do Hyline brown chickens live?

Hyline Browns are light and productive chickens, so they usually only live for 3 to 6 years. However, many backyard chicken keepers report that they live around 2-3 years.

Are hyline browns good egg layers?

Hyline Brown hens are among the top egg-layers in the world. So they are the perfect pick for anyone seeking a consistent and plentiful source of fresh eggs.